THE BETHANY LETTER

April 10, 2007 Volume 2007, Issue No. 13

Scripture: John 20:19-31

Sermon: Locked Down Lives

Adult Classes at 9:15 - Bible Discoveries; Lounge Class - Guest Speaker; Perspectives;

Seasons of the Spirit; Seekers - Relationships; Senior High; Upper Room

Just a reminder that the SARA workdays are scheduled for Wednesday, April 11^th and Thursday, April 12^th. The work takes place at the Grandview Methodist Church on Phelps Street and the doors open at 9:00 a.m. In the past several workday periods, most of the work was done on the first day of the count. The congregation at Grandview is very grateful for the time and effort you give to this project.

If you would like to learn more about Bethany Church come to the Lounge (1^st floor, 13^th Street entrance) at 7:00 p.m., for the Inquiry Meeting. Pastor Steve will be sharing about our congregation and the United Church of Christ of which we are a part. He'll also be glad to answer any questions and respond to any concerns.

Planning for the Youth Mission Trip begins April 22^nd. We need all registrations in by Friday, April 13^th so that we know how many planning resources to prepare. Registrations MUST include: the $75 deposit, covenant, health information/liability waiver and a copy of insurance card. Registrations are taken only at the church office.

Don't forget, Bethany Buckeyes will meet this Friday April 13^th (lucky us), a week later than usual, because of Good Friday occurring on our normal meeting day. So bring your appetites, your sense of adventure and your "good luck" charms to the meeting at 6:00 p.m. in the Social Hall.

If anyone is interested in seeing the Ballet production of Sleeping Beauty at the Akron Civic Theatre May 5^th please call the church office. If we have a group of at least 20 people we can get tickets for $10 or $15. We would need to have the order by April 15^th (That's this Sunday!)

Jeff Mosley from New Trinity was given 40 FREE tickets to the Aeros game on April 16^th, a night game. He will give 20 tickets to Bethany. Call Frank Read or Carol at the church office to reserve tickets for the game. Come and join us with New Trinity to watch a great Aeros game and have some fellowship with our partnership friends. We can take the church van if that would help you decide to go.

We will be heading to Canal Fulton to play Bingo and enjoy refreshments with the residents. We will carpool or take the church van, so please be at the church parking lot by 1:15 p.m.

It is a great time for men of the church to get together to share faith, food, and fellowship together; as well as a few chores with which the custodians could use some help. The men gather the 3^rd Wednesday of the month at 8:00 a.m. (Next breakfast April 18^th). You can help make this time possible by providing breakfast for 8-10 men once during the year. If you'd like to help in this way call Nancy Read. Please join us!

Please bring in your ACME receipts. They must be dated no later than April 7^th. Receipts must be received at church by April 22^nd in order to be counted in our total. Thank you!

Please donate a baked good item for the Treasures-Bake Sale! Please bring in your goodies on Friday, April 27^th. There will be a table set up in the social hall. If you have not heard from Linda Read about donating an item, please call her and save her a call! Your goodies are greatly appreciated and will benefit a Bethany Mission. Questions? Call Linda Read.

Bring in all those special, unwanted pieces you found all over the house to donate to the sale! Items will be collected the week PRIOR to the sale - which is Saturday, April 28^th. We will also collect your treasures up to the sale date. NEED ITEMS PICKED UP? - Call Kim Wurgler, who believes "your junk is our mission." Kim will accept anything BUT clothes. Contact Kim. Thanks!

A "Souper" Idea!

Many of us enjoyed so many wonderful soups (this year there were 24 different kinds!) at the Wednesday night Lenten Suppers.  There have been numerous requests for recipes, so we've decided to put together a booklet of soup recipes.  I've already requested recipes from this year's soup makers, and would like to also include any other favorite soup recipes you are willing to share.  Please give them to me in person, by e-mail or leave a copy in the Upper Room class mailbox in the office hallway.  Thanks!  - Mary Seymour

Bethany UCC is planning on a paper-recycling receptacle in the near future. We contacted the company to receive one but it will not arrive for another 4-6 weeks. Thank you for your patience.

VBS July 9 - 13 - Notice the change of week this year!

Thank you Bethany family for your concern following my surgery. Many thanks to all who visited me and brought food, the many cards and SPECIAL THANKS TO Pastor Steve, Rev. Steiner and Don Evans for their visits. Also, thanks to Sally Mellott for the altar flowers and Ruth Schreiber for the Prayer Shawl made by Maureen Craddock. I feel so blessed to belong to such a caring church family. Margaret Deacon

Thanks to all who donated candy, helped fill, and helped hide the eggs for the Easter Egg Hunt last Sunday. The children had a wonderful hunt in their classrooms!

Thanks to Doug Shroyer for beginning the "Easter Morning Shuttle Service" between Oak Park and Bethany. It was a big help in reducing parking problems for many people.

Kathy Ruch, St. Thomas Hospital

Robert Tromp, Akron General Hospital

It has been almost 36 years since Rev. Donald Powers decided to form a class that would be for young couples and singles.  John and I were two of the first members of that class.  After trying out several names, such as "the Young Adult Class" and "Pairs and Spares" -- the second of which sounded too much like a bowling league -- we adopted the name "Upper Room Class" since we met in the then new space above the office addition. Over the years, the size of the class has fluctuated as new members have joined the church and others have moved away.  We've gone from discussing the challenges of raising toddlers, then teenagers, and now most of us are grandparents.  We've been there for each other as we have dealt with difficult times in our lives, like caring for aging parents, job losses, long distance relationships with children, illnesses, divorces and deaths of loved ones.  But we also celebrate the joys of our lives, like graduations, the weddings of our children and "oh and ah" over the latest photos of the grandchildren.  We've become like extended family to one another, offering caring support and enjoying social times together. We'd like to extend an invitation to come and try out our class.  We have just relocated our meeting space back to the Upper Room, just behind the sanctuary, so we are easy to find and only a short walk from the early service to the 10:30 service.  Most Sundays, we use the Seasons of the Spirit curriculum, which is based on the lectionary texts for the day, reading the scriptures and discussing how they apply to our lives today.  From time to time, we may instead watch a video, or discuss a book or current events.  Please know that you are welcome and we would like to share our fellowship with you! Mary Seymour, Class Facilitator

6:30p Mission Trip Planning

Volunteers -

Greeters: Duane and Lisa Shroyer

David and Heather Bedillion

Lay Reader: Nathan Anderson

Music: Motet Choir/ Chancel Choir

Nursery: Jack Dugan, Kristi Dugan,

Dillon Shroyer, Taylor Giffen

Social Hour Host: Music Committee

Ushers: Richard Holle, Bob Charton, Mary and

Ralph Bowmaster, Karen Mellott,

Sally Mellott, Sharon Holle, Austin Renner

Van Driver: Bob Read

Visitor Outlook: Judy Ingram

Greeters: Tim and Beverly Eberhardt

John and Cathy Dix

Lay Reader: Ruth Schreiber

Music: Memory Bell Choir at both services

Nursery: Amanda Keenan, Beth Lees

Social Hour: Chancel Choir

Ushers: Tim Hermann, Herb Walker, Sue Truby,

Sharon Ward, Hilda Bowman, Mark Jensen,

Karen Fratz, Andrew Slota

Van Driver: Linda Goodwin

Visitor Outlook: Beth Lees

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Special Music

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